Posted
by
michaelon Friday November 15, 2002 @04:04PM
from the eyes-only dept.

Makarand writes "In the past few days photographic techniques for
recording phenomena at the molecular and atomic levels have been reported. Prepare to be amazed!
(1)
Scientists
at UCLA were able to eavesdrop on cellular conversations between proteins.
(2)
Scientists at the University of Buffalo
recorded on videotape
and in real time
a molecule of a particular DNA motor protein in the process of "unzipping"
a double strand of bacterial DNA. A Quicktime movie is also available
here.
(3) Lastly, using ultrafast flash photography, scientists at the Vienna University of
Technology (Austria), could for the first time ask Electrons to say "Cheese!".
They could
track the motion of electrons deep within atoms."

The X-ray pulse then hits krypton atoms, knocking out some of their electrons. The laser pulse, arriving a fraction of a moment later, allows the researchers to view other electrons tumbling into the spaces left by the knocked-out electrons.

The researchers still cannot directly detect an electron's jumping into an empty space. But when that electron drops, it gives extra energy to a neighbor, kicking it out of the atom, too. The laser pulse illuminates this second ejected electron.

The experiment does not violate Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, which prohibits the exact measurement of both the position and velocity of a particle. The laser pulse does not reveal the position of the electron, just its velocity.

The experiment does not violate Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, which prohibits the exact measurement of both the position and velocity of a particle. The laser pulse does not reveal the position of the electron, just its velocity.

Phew.. I was really scared there for a minute! I mean, God only knows what would happen if we started violating physical law.. all hell could break loose!

I read the article on "photographing" electreons and although I can appreciate the need for a short exposure, how exactly does this work? I though the wavelength of light was enormous relative in atomic terms.

Good luck trying to slashdot the UB webserver. Our MAIL server is a freaking cluster of 4 Sun UltraSparcs. I dunno what the web server is, but I would imagine its very, very large. Perhaps a Beowolf Cluster.;)

Oh, and its not techincally University of Buffalo. Its University AT Buffalo. As in, State University of New York at Buffalo

I'm almost positive that intercepting and recording cellular communications without permission of all parties is illegal in most states unless you belong to one of several three-letter-agencies of the US Government.
But, IANAL.